Hans-Ulrich Rudel
04-18-07, 06:19 AM
Problems with SH4.
I have some questions and quires that need to be addressed in SH4.
1.I have a problem with medals and promotions. When I return to base after a patrol and go to the crew section I notice that I have been awarded with numerous promotions and medals. I am informed that by dragging a promotion or medal over a highlighted crew member that it will result in that crew member being able to receive the medal or promotion. This is not the case as there are no highlighted crew to receive as such. So I have numerous medals and promotion that I can not award. Why this is happening is beyond me! I spent plenty of time around the area to be patrolled, yet the game says that I have not completed the patrol even though I have 95k Tons shipping sunk on that patrol, I have to date a total of 305k Ton of shipping for 4 patrols and yet I have not been able to award anyone anything! Can some one please explain this? It maybe that I have not completed the patrol as the tick box said I did not. This is crazy as I spent all my patrol time in the area designated to the point of entering Tokyo harbour and surrounding harbours and sinking every ship (21) in those harbours. Note that it was far too easy to do this, in real life it would have been an impossible task. Just try sneaking through Gibraltar in GWX.
2.The crew management section has a lot to be desired, GWX is a far far better system, the manual that comes with SH4 is pathetic, as there is not nearly enough information on crew management, submarines available, weapons systems (Torpedos, Subs, Machine guns, Flack guns, Deck guns, Radar and Sonar) In GXW there is a time line on the availability of weapon systems, which allows you to plan your career. Please note that there is no explanation why there are ‘Men down on the deck” while on patrol, when I have not been attacked. These crew members seem to be suffering from psychological problems, and will result in the crew member icon turning pink; he is not dead, just totality useless. I would have thought that there would be at least an explanation of this in the manual, and how to avoid it if possible. These crew members can be replaced, at considerable expense in renown for decent crew.
3.The time line needs to be addressed as this game should be about total submersion as in GXW. The historical aspects are important as are the explanation of weapon systems, specifications and date availability. Note that the manual on GWX runs to 173 Pages and is full of historical and game play information. I need to make the point here is those upgrades really made a great game really fabulous. My hat is off to the wonderful crew at GXW.
4.I feel that SH4 was not ready for public release and that UBI soft need to get their act together on the management of the part of the company that handle, software development and sales and marketing ( At least they could have had a liaison with the crew at GXW). I feel that the person who wrote the copy on the manual for SH4 did not spend much time actually playing the game, or just assumes that you know as an example why a crew member turns pink. I could write a manual that would be 100 times better. Remember at $100 this game is not cheap! Maybe UBI reply to the software development team opinion that the game is not ready is “ We take on board that you guys in software are telling us the game is not yet ready yet for public release but you guys need to realise the accounting aspect, so we are going to release the game and get Joe Blogs from marketing to write a quick manual, don’t you guys worry about the bugs, we can fix that with patch 1.1 ,1.2, 1.3,1.4, 1.5 and so on, also remember GXW, those guy did it all for free, and so did the guys from Subsim with all their add ons, so stuff the public and release the game.”
5.I have noticed a time compression bug. When starting a patrol time compression works well but after time it slows down to the point that coming home can be a real pain, try 512 time compression and it will take 3 hours to get home. You can not set it and go watch TV as you will be attacked and sunk by aircraft! I think that this happens because on patrol I save often, as you should! Remember that a decent patrol with all torpedos and deck ammunition used can take a better part of 6 hours in real time, that saving games is a must for obvious reasons. If you play the game smart you can on average receive 100k ton per patrol. The problem in regards to this is not my computer as I have tried turning the graphics down to low on the return home and it makes no difference, only when I start my next mission will the bug be fixed but at the end of that patrol the problem will raise its ugly head again.
6.I paid $100 for the collector’s edition of SH4; it came with a recognition manual. The keel depth on every ship is incorrect! on every ship I have sunk. As you are aware exploding a torpedo below the keel is the most efficient way to sink a ship with the minimum of weapons. As running depth of torpedos is only efficient to approximately .5 of a metre this information is critical. I also notice that the ship recognition manual when in game attack mode keyboard key (N) cannot identify merchant shipping as merchant shipping is not there. If there is a system to identify merchant shipping I would like to know how to do it.
7.The Medals are historically incorrect. If I am wrong or there is a reason for this, please advise if I am wrong. .
8.The depth setting gauge for torpedos is too small, hard to adjust and should be in at least .5 metre increments.
I have a lot more complaints in regards to SH4, but I have at this stage written enough for food for thought as of now. My comments are in no way a bad commendation for SH4 as it is still a great game, just sort out the bugs, improve the game play, rewrite the manuals (by someone who understands the game play and the historical aspects 100% and UBI soft will make one of the best games EVER!) Please note that I could be wrong in my observations and conclusions of SH4. I would be please to be shown wrong in the above.
As can be seen I have put in a considerable amount of time and thought in the above copy. It could be that I have missed items and instructions in the game play or maybe I am a bit stupid. Please advise!
Remember that I paid good money for this game and I know that in business there is only one thing and that is customers. As a customer I am extremely disappointed in the game play of SH4 and feel strongly that it was and is not yet ready to release to the general public. My comments are only my opinion, and we all have one of those too! But in the long haul I am a customer and I demand excellence for the exchange of my hard earned money. In summery the graphics and detail in SH4 are superb, but I am far more interested in historical aspects and true and workable game play than in pretty pictures. A lesson need to be learned from the guys at GXW.
In parting remember that submarine SUMULATION GAMES are all about TOTAL SUBMERSION.
I have some questions and quires that need to be addressed in SH4.
1.I have a problem with medals and promotions. When I return to base after a patrol and go to the crew section I notice that I have been awarded with numerous promotions and medals. I am informed that by dragging a promotion or medal over a highlighted crew member that it will result in that crew member being able to receive the medal or promotion. This is not the case as there are no highlighted crew to receive as such. So I have numerous medals and promotion that I can not award. Why this is happening is beyond me! I spent plenty of time around the area to be patrolled, yet the game says that I have not completed the patrol even though I have 95k Tons shipping sunk on that patrol, I have to date a total of 305k Ton of shipping for 4 patrols and yet I have not been able to award anyone anything! Can some one please explain this? It maybe that I have not completed the patrol as the tick box said I did not. This is crazy as I spent all my patrol time in the area designated to the point of entering Tokyo harbour and surrounding harbours and sinking every ship (21) in those harbours. Note that it was far too easy to do this, in real life it would have been an impossible task. Just try sneaking through Gibraltar in GWX.
2.The crew management section has a lot to be desired, GWX is a far far better system, the manual that comes with SH4 is pathetic, as there is not nearly enough information on crew management, submarines available, weapons systems (Torpedos, Subs, Machine guns, Flack guns, Deck guns, Radar and Sonar) In GXW there is a time line on the availability of weapon systems, which allows you to plan your career. Please note that there is no explanation why there are ‘Men down on the deck” while on patrol, when I have not been attacked. These crew members seem to be suffering from psychological problems, and will result in the crew member icon turning pink; he is not dead, just totality useless. I would have thought that there would be at least an explanation of this in the manual, and how to avoid it if possible. These crew members can be replaced, at considerable expense in renown for decent crew.
3.The time line needs to be addressed as this game should be about total submersion as in GXW. The historical aspects are important as are the explanation of weapon systems, specifications and date availability. Note that the manual on GWX runs to 173 Pages and is full of historical and game play information. I need to make the point here is those upgrades really made a great game really fabulous. My hat is off to the wonderful crew at GXW.
4.I feel that SH4 was not ready for public release and that UBI soft need to get their act together on the management of the part of the company that handle, software development and sales and marketing ( At least they could have had a liaison with the crew at GXW). I feel that the person who wrote the copy on the manual for SH4 did not spend much time actually playing the game, or just assumes that you know as an example why a crew member turns pink. I could write a manual that would be 100 times better. Remember at $100 this game is not cheap! Maybe UBI reply to the software development team opinion that the game is not ready is “ We take on board that you guys in software are telling us the game is not yet ready yet for public release but you guys need to realise the accounting aspect, so we are going to release the game and get Joe Blogs from marketing to write a quick manual, don’t you guys worry about the bugs, we can fix that with patch 1.1 ,1.2, 1.3,1.4, 1.5 and so on, also remember GXW, those guy did it all for free, and so did the guys from Subsim with all their add ons, so stuff the public and release the game.”
5.I have noticed a time compression bug. When starting a patrol time compression works well but after time it slows down to the point that coming home can be a real pain, try 512 time compression and it will take 3 hours to get home. You can not set it and go watch TV as you will be attacked and sunk by aircraft! I think that this happens because on patrol I save often, as you should! Remember that a decent patrol with all torpedos and deck ammunition used can take a better part of 6 hours in real time, that saving games is a must for obvious reasons. If you play the game smart you can on average receive 100k ton per patrol. The problem in regards to this is not my computer as I have tried turning the graphics down to low on the return home and it makes no difference, only when I start my next mission will the bug be fixed but at the end of that patrol the problem will raise its ugly head again.
6.I paid $100 for the collector’s edition of SH4; it came with a recognition manual. The keel depth on every ship is incorrect! on every ship I have sunk. As you are aware exploding a torpedo below the keel is the most efficient way to sink a ship with the minimum of weapons. As running depth of torpedos is only efficient to approximately .5 of a metre this information is critical. I also notice that the ship recognition manual when in game attack mode keyboard key (N) cannot identify merchant shipping as merchant shipping is not there. If there is a system to identify merchant shipping I would like to know how to do it.
7.The Medals are historically incorrect. If I am wrong or there is a reason for this, please advise if I am wrong. .
8.The depth setting gauge for torpedos is too small, hard to adjust and should be in at least .5 metre increments.
I have a lot more complaints in regards to SH4, but I have at this stage written enough for food for thought as of now. My comments are in no way a bad commendation for SH4 as it is still a great game, just sort out the bugs, improve the game play, rewrite the manuals (by someone who understands the game play and the historical aspects 100% and UBI soft will make one of the best games EVER!) Please note that I could be wrong in my observations and conclusions of SH4. I would be please to be shown wrong in the above.
As can be seen I have put in a considerable amount of time and thought in the above copy. It could be that I have missed items and instructions in the game play or maybe I am a bit stupid. Please advise!
Remember that I paid good money for this game and I know that in business there is only one thing and that is customers. As a customer I am extremely disappointed in the game play of SH4 and feel strongly that it was and is not yet ready to release to the general public. My comments are only my opinion, and we all have one of those too! But in the long haul I am a customer and I demand excellence for the exchange of my hard earned money. In summery the graphics and detail in SH4 are superb, but I am far more interested in historical aspects and true and workable game play than in pretty pictures. A lesson need to be learned from the guys at GXW.
In parting remember that submarine SUMULATION GAMES are all about TOTAL SUBMERSION.